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Monday, 7 January 2013

A Very Honest Blog Post

Last night I read an article on IFB that really struck a cord with me. The article was entitled What 'Noones Talking About on Social Media' and it got me thinking about the blogs I read, and also my own blog.

I think we're all guilty of portraying this 'perfect blogging life', wardrobes fulls of new fabulous clothing, or great ideas to re-vamp an old piece and calling it vintage and DIY. Not only this we idealise these pictures of other people. I know myself I've looked at other peoples blog (and do so on a daily basis) "I wish I was as stylish and edgy as that", or "I wish I had that much success so young". But the truth is that we all create a specific vision of ourselves on social media, even if we don't mean to, and i'm guilty of this myself. We all pose for the camera and display nice pictures of ourselves, showing positive aspects of our lives, even if we've actually had a really shit day.

I don't know about anyone else but I kind of use my blog as an escape; this is the person I want and hope to be, without all of the hardwork and effort, also the down sides that go along with our lives.
Now, it took me a while to pluck up the courage to right this post. Let's face it none of us want to come across negative or moany. But I would never want to come across as a 'Sunshine suzie' either (as one fo the other bloggers commented under the article).

So this is where I'm going with this post; I share images of the photoshoots I go on, the internships I've had, and all of the fashion work I do, because when I started looking for work fresh out of uni I wish I had a blog with this kind of information on, so I could see what it was like, and to spur me on.
I've also had loads of people asking me through my blog and other social media how I got these internships. HARD WORK. Simple good old fashioned hard work.

My final year of university I slaved away at my magazine. Whilst my friends were out on well deserved nights off I made myself stay in to do more work. Stressed myself out. Believe me I cried more over the best thing I've ever done - My magazine, than anything else. The one thing that's brought me my success I literally hated the whole time I was creating it!
Then I lost my grandma just after I finished university. She was the one person I knew would be so proud of me, and I never got to show her my work. I never got to call her when I got the job with Selfridges, ASOS and Krush.com, and I never got to say goodbye to her. Then I found out that I have to take tablets daily, maybe for a long time because of a chemical imbalance I have. It took me ages to get used to the tablets, and even now I miss out on work opportunites because of hospital/doctors appointments.

Then when I eventually got myself sorted, I got up everyday and applied for millions of jobs. I got quite down about it, thinking there wasn't any point - it's so competitive out there, the employer gets SO MANY applications, theres not much point applying if you're going to be the 200th CV. But you still apply anyway. I eventually got internships. I had a couple of internships which were awful. I was literally a slave. But you carry on.

Thing is we ALL go through badtimes. We ALL struggle. We ALL look at each others lives and think 'why can't that be me'. We all have our own issues that we don't share on our blogs. And honestly I dont know why? Surely, the people that follow us on our blogs actually CARE about whats going on and how we've got to where we are, how we're getting on both good and bad, or they wouldn't follow, comment and share your blog right?

I'm going to admit now that my blog probably looks a tad idealistic. Who's doesnt? I love my life at the moment, I'm so grateful for where I am today but not everyday is perfect, and I have a LONG way to go. I definitely have my own struggles day to day that I still wouldn't share on my blog. And I honestly worked so hard to get to where I am now.

I just wanted to be honest with everyone - the last thing I would ever want is for my blog to come across as 'look at me, my life is a perfect little fashion world'. Ever. Apologies also because this was a tad out of the blue, but theres nothing wrong with some cringe sharing sometimes!

2013 is time for some honesty, (im not talking how long you spend on the toilet, I mean how tough the industry really is!) and also supporting each other - Let it be a good year for all us fashion bloggers!

10 comments:

this post is really brave. You are putting yourself out here by talking of these really private things. But it makes you a lot more human and so much nicer. You are giving your readers the opportunity to get to know you a bit more.

But I think its ok to share just the "bright" side of your life with your followers, though. Its a blog and everyone knows that things could look a lot different in real life.Its quite risky to put all aspects of your life in your blog.

It's brilliant to share all of the positives, because we all want to motivate and inspire people, but I do want to share that I have worked hard to have had the opportunities I've been given, and the point being if I can do it anyone can! And I totally agree that there are aspects that you definitely wouldn't share on your blog :) Thanks so much for your comment!

Great post, I definitely enjoyed reading it, and everything you said was true :) Sorry about your grandma :( things are definitely looking up for you and the hard work is paying off :) oh and what is the magazine you're talking about? is there any pictures of it on your blog or something?

Hi Nasreen!Don't be sorry, unfortunately that's life and we all go through hard times, I never set out for this to be a sympathy vote, rather to share that I am human! Lol! Yes if you look on the right hand bar,there is a link to my magazine website 'Duende', you can see the whole magazine here: http://www.behance.net/gallery/DUENDE-MAGAZINE/5221893 Have a look and please let me know what you think!

This is a very honest post. When we read someone's blog we assume they have such a fantastic and perfect life but we always forget that, as every person, their life's are far from being perfect. Thanks for sharing this post, I love your blog :)

Thanks Maria!I have a great life I can't complain but yes there have been hard times, but not just myself - we all have struggles and hard times and I don't think we should be afraid to share them sometimes!Thanks for following my blog and commenting, I do notice the people that always come back and comment, and I appreciate it so so much!

Love this post! I recently took a hiatus from fashion blogging because i just wasnt happy about the way it was making me feel about other people and my own life. I didnt like feeling jealous or feeling like i didnt match up. Ive recently had a complete change of career path and feel like i have a lot of catching up to do...you have made me feel a lot better about my daily struggle to feel like i dont match up. I now use wordpress to write a different kind of blog and use it almost as a portfolio of my work and to showcase my struggle to learn certain Adobe programs. Definitely following :) Aisha x

Hi Aisha,Thanks so much for your comment and having a look at the post!Trust me you're not the only one that's experienced these feelings - I still get it now! But you've go to think that your blog is for you and your own interests and personal reflection.To me it doesn't matter if you have 5 or 5,000 followers as long as they're genuine and you stay true to yourself too! Having people like you comment on my blog, follow and to have discussions with is all part of the benefits of blogging!Send me a link to your blog i'd love to have a look! Keep at it!Holly xx

Read this blog if you're a hardworking dreamer, wanting to know everything about working in fashion (including the nitty gritty) from a girl working amongst it, with the occasional suspect OOTD (no planned perfection for the cameras here!)